ly. "I never saw such a car!
We've had nothing but trouble since we bought it."

"Perhaps it's only flooded," Penny suggested hopefully.

Susan shook her head.

"It's done this before. Nothing to do but call the garage. Anyway,
Mr. Brunner promised he'd give the car a free overhaul, and this is his
chance to make good."

The girls telephoned the Brunner garage from a drug store located
directly across the street. They waited nearly half an hour before the
blue service car arrived to tow them in.

"May I speak to Mr. Brunner?" Susan politely asked one of the garage
employees.

"Sorry but he's busy," was the curt reply. "I'll handle any complaint
you have to make."

Susan gave a somewhat lengthy account of her car troubles. The
employee scarcely bothered to listen. When she had finished, he said
briefly.

"I'll check the car over and have it ready in half an hour."

"Let's wait," Susan proposed.

They found chairs nearby. In fifteen minutes, the same employee
returned to report that the car was ready.

"So soon?" Susan said in surprise. "Why, I'm sure you couldn't have
checked over everything in such a short while."

"The car will start now. If you want a general overhaul you'll have to
pay for it."

"But Mr. Brunner promised me when I bought the automobile that if
anything went wrong he'd make it right!" Susan protested indignantly.
"I've driven the car less than five hundred miles and it's almost
falling apart! May I see Mr. Brunner?"

"He's in his office," the man informed reluctantly.

"And where is that?"

"Down the hall. The second door from the end."

Crossing through the deserted repair shop, the girls made their way
down the dark hallway. The door which the employee had indicated stood
slightly ajar.

As Penny and Susan drew near they heard angry voices.

"You can threaten me all you like, but I tell you I'm through! I'll
never do any more work for you, Brunner!"

"You'll do exactly as I say or--" The manager abruptly broke off for
he had noticed the two girls standing at the open door. "Come in, come
in!" he beamed.

Penny's keen glance traveled beyond George Brunner to the person whom
he had addressed in such an abusive tone.

It was Jerry Barrows.

CHAPTER XIV

Brunner's Explanation

Jerry Barrows had recognized Penny instantly. Before she could recover
from her surprise at seeing him, he wheeled and left the office by a
side door.

Involuntarily, Pe